K-Wings bolstered by Dean Strong's return as they head into ECHL's Eastern Conference finals

KALAMAZOO — Even though the Kalamazoo Wings led the Eastern Conference semifinals two games to none last week, it might have been one and done for K-Wings forward Dean Strong, who rejoined his Kalamazoo teammates in Game 3 after his AHL team was booted from the playoffs.

Instead, Strong is preparing with the K-Wings to face the Florida Everblades in the ECHL’s best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals, beginning Friday and Saturday at Wings Stadium.

When the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters ended their season, Strong returned to the K-Wings, flying from Pennsylvania to South Carolina in time to face the Stingrays in Game 3. He said if the K-Wings lost that game, he was leaving the team.

“I was as serious as I thought I could get,” Strong said. “I don’t know if I’d actually be able to pull it off. I was very serious about not wanting to mess with any chemistry that’s going on around here.

Nick Bootland

The ingredients Strong brings to the team definitely did not mess with the chemistry, except to make it stronger, K-Wings coach Nick Bootland said.

“He’s a team-first guy who plays a ton of minutes and in a ton of situations and can be on the ice at any time of the game and be reliable,” Bootland said.

“(Since returning) he’s quicker. He’s got that speed. He’s always been fast, but playing up there that consistently and for that long of a time, you’re forced to move your feet in more situations. You can see that explosiveness right off the bat from (his first game back).”

Strong, who kept in touch with the K-Wings while he was with Lake Erie, said Bootland contacted him a few weeks ago “asking if I was available if I would come back,” Strong said. “These are great guys here. I really like Nick as a coach, so it was an easy decision.”

In Strong’s 26 regular-season games with the K-Wings, he had 24 points on 12 goals and 12 assists. In 49 games with Lake Erie, he had four goals and 10 assists.

Looking at the conference finals, Strong said: “We have to play our best hockey, offensively and defensively. It’s gonna be real important to win a couple games on the road because they obviously play very, very well at home. So if we can steal a couple on the road at some point in the series, we should be good.”

After a chilly week in Kalamazoo, Bootland said the Florida weather won’t be a distraction.

Eastern Conference finals

Kalamazoo Wings vs. Florida Everblades

Best of seven

Game 1: Florida at Kalamazoo, 7:30 p.m. Friday

Game 2: Florida at Kalamazoo, 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Game 3: Kalamazoo at Florida, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 2

Game 4: Kalamazoo at Florida, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 3

*Game 5: Kalamazoo at Florida, 7 p.m., Saturday, May 5

*Game 6: Florida at Kalamazoo, 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 8

*Game 7: Florida at Kalamazoo, 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 9

*If needed

“It’s not a distraction for anybody at this point,” he said. “We made a commitment to each other for the next 60 days starting at the postseason. I have no concerns with that whatsoever.”

“Is it a third line?” Bootland asked. “If it’s a third line, then we’re pretty fortunate. Dean Strong, (Eric) Kattelus and (Justin) Taylor, or (Dustin) Cloutier, Taylor and Strong, that’s not a third line.

“In this league, you’re playing three lines. The success we’re having on the road, being able to play them whoever’s out there and not having to worry about it, is great.”